Review Summary:

Named after the Pampas cat that is native to southern Argentina, the Pajero is a full-size SUV built by the Japanese brand that has been around since 1982 and is currently in its fifth generation. Filling in a rather interesting niche in the market, the Pajero goes head on against competitors such as the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Land Cruiser.

Pros

Reasonable price tag when compared to its nearest rival Interior quality for a car that falls into this price range Off-road capability

Cons

Unimaginative exterior since it hasn't been altered significantly for the past eight years

Looks

Introduced in 2006, the current generation Mitsubishi Pajero flaunts a prominent chrome outlined grille, silver lining to the tail lamps and a rather rugged outershell. Being one of the few SUV’s that hasn’t got in on the ‘crossover hype’, its appearance is an ideal match to the performance it offers. However, eight years on, the design boffins may want to conjure up something a little more innovative, rather than a flashier grille and redesigned rims every couple of years.

Feels

A few minutes within the cabin of the 2014 Mitsubishi Pajero and it’s clear that being comfortable was on top of the priority list when the interior was being put together. With wood finishing on the steering wheel, door panels and dashboard, along with USB audio and a banging 12 speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system to accompany, creature comforts weren’t forgotten in the full-size Japanese SUV.

Engineering

Drive modes range from 2H to 4H, to 4HLc to the ultimate 4LLC that switches to low range with a locked center differential and provides maximum low end torque to pull the Pajero through the stickiest of mud. However, that’s not all the Japanese have packed in, because with an optional rear differential lock, the Pajero delivers the traction needed to prevent wheel slip and navigate the most treacherous of situations.

What’s on offer?

Two engine choices are available on the 2014 Mitsubishi Pajero. A 3.5 litre V6 that churns out 186 horsepower and a larger 3.8 litre V6 that whips out 246 horsepower and boasts a top speed of 200 km/h. While a 4 speed automatic transmission is what the 3.5 litre variant receives, a 5 speed automatic transmission makes its way into the beefier 3.8 litre variant.

Summing it…

There aren’t many brand’s that possess a true off-roader anymore. Brands like Nissan and Ford have ditched their off-road capable Pathfinder and Explorer for vehicles that feel more at home in the city than off the beaten path, and while brands like Toyota have their trusty Land Cruiser, it’s priced at over double that of the Pajero. So going back to what I said earlier, the 2014 Mitsubishi Pajero fills an interesting niche in the market – the reasonably priced off-road capable niche…

24 Responses to 2014 Mitsubishi Pajero | new car review

I am about to buy 2014 Pajero with 3.8L Engine and have loved the drive. However, the only issue worrying me is the steering wheel, that is feeling heavier their usual.

I believe this is due to the bigger rims and tyre size which is 18 OR 19 inch as told to me by the seller. But i wanted to have an expert opinion on the steering control from your side to conclude this deal.

While owning something out of the Holy Trinity (Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz) can be exciting, the benefits of buying a brand new car cannot be understated. Sure, the Pajero isn’t going to make you look as well-off as you would when driving the X3 or the Q5, but it will presumably be cheaper to run and less of a hassle too.

If you’re looking at getting hold of the X3 or Q5 from a reputable pre-owned source, then your only concern would be the higher maintenance costs compared to the Pajero. The way I see it, the Pajero is brand new (meaning virtually no hassles for the next five years), is a larger car with more seating, and will even fetch you better resale value. Practically, the Pajero makes more sense. But of course, if your heart is going to rule over your head, then you’ll find yourself picking between the Germans.

I drive a honda civic for past 7 years and now i’m done. I need to have a car which is huge, with a bit of off roading capability and I need a car which can accomodate 7 passengers without compromising their comfort + a huge sunroof with some more cheese (i.e. entertainment device with LCD display etc…), yeah and when i climb the car, i should feel that i’m climbing a 4WD/SUV.

I loved the Pajero but the Platinum Edition too is not equiped with LCD display or Navigation System. its a yummy drive with the sunroof of my choice. Elevation of the car is far better than the Crossovers and pricing is a plus point BUT many of my colleagues are Dodge, Mazda & Nissan fans, nobody is encouraging me to go for Pajero. They say its a waste of money!!! which i dont think so. but they are scaring that you will regret after purchasing the car.

From the sound of it, you’ve already driven all that the competition has to offer, so let me just help you decide on what you should settle for.

The Pajero is virtually bulletproof and I say this because I have owned one for the past five years myself. Taking it off-road and bashing it on the dunes as often as I can, it’s given me no issues whatsoever.

Unfortunately, it isn’t filled with tech like its competitors, but the dealer did offer to install an infotainment screen with Navigation and a Rear View Camera for around AED 10,000 when I had bought mine, if I remember correctly.

As far as value for money goes Ahmed, you really cannot go wrong with the Pajero. Get yourself the 3.8 litre variant and it’s got adequate power to have fun on the road, as well as off-road.

They say God won’t save you simply if u jump into a water pool without moving your body organs! thats what i did… Your opinion is really helpful. I believe i would be using the new car at least for 6-7 years, so i think Platinum Edition with all the options will keep me encouraged to go with my car for years & years. I wont get bored. Anyways, Please don’t mind answering two more questions being a Pajero owner for past 5 yrs. Q1: How is the petrol consumption of that Giant? I’m driving 1.8L now and a sudden jump to to 3.8L will shoot up gas consumption to which extent? Civic is full in AED 75 and it gives me upto 450KMS on av average. Q2: How does it perform in long traffic ques? My honda has small gears i mean i can keep my car stuck in 2nd gear until i clear all the traffic, bcoz i hate my car shifting gears whenever the car reaches 15-20-30kms speed for a short period and then shift back to 1st gear when it slows down. I know pajero has a sport option to manually shift the gears but does it work? i never tested during the test drive. Thanks and sorry for this long story.

1) The Civic’s tank size is 50 litres, while the Pajero’s is 88 litres. With average fuel costs being AED 1.77 per litre, a full tank on the Civic would cost approximately AED 88.5 while filling the Pajero would cost you AED 155. On a full tank in the Pajero, you can expect between 450 and 500 kilometres depending on how gently you use the accelerator pedal. So yes, your spending on fuel will increase, but then again, you’ll be piloting a significantly larger engine.

2) The Pajero does have a manual override and allows you to control the shifting of gears, but unfortunately, it will upshift when you hit the rev limiter and downshift when you stop down / stop. So no, holding second gear all through traffic will not be possible.

I’d recommend having another test drive just to ensure you’re fully comfortable with the car and its workings before you settle for one.

Regards,

Zaran

Ahmed Hassan

May 21, 2015 at 11:38 am

Thank you so much Zaran… I’ll have another test drive. I try to stick my car to a single gear out of the fear that it might damage my gearbox if the car keeps changing the gears frequently.

Hi zaran, Thankz for ur words. I did test drive a xtrail ..but not so impresed with the drive comfrt.. Also many features like lane departure warning, moving objct detctn , blind spot monitring , sensing tail gate opening not included in uae availbl models.. Honda crv was gud wit test drive.. Have to check pajero also.. The general comment i heard was the secnd row is not so comfrtbl for long journeyss.. tempted to chck gmc or chevrlt models also in that 120 k range..what u sayy..

Both the Pajero and the CR-V have a second row that can recline, so comfort shouldn’t be too much of an issue. However, none of them will offer the sort of features you’re looking for. In your budget, the only brands that could offer them are the Koreans (Hyundai and Kia).

If you’re alright with trying out a Korean, then I’d suggest either the Hyundai Santa-Fe, or the Kia Sorento. As always, test drive them just to make sure you’re comfortable with them.

Also, while Chevrolet is an alternative, GMC’s tend to be dressed up and overpriced Chevrolet’s at the end of the day, so don’t see the point in splurging for one.

Between the Pajero and CR-V, the Pajero is the more logical buy. It’s got more space, it’s more practical, its’s got off-road potential, and will even save you some money to spend elsewhere. However, the CR-V is undoubtedly more comfortable and if it’s a vehicle for the urban landscape that you’re sourcing, then you may want to consider the Nissan X-Trail – it’s a mighty good package.

Thanks Zaran for that quick response. Really appreciate the same. I had sort of taken a decision to go for the Pajero and your views have cemented it further :). I am taking the Platinum edition with the full bells & whistles. Also had a talk with couple of my office mates who have been driving this vehicle for the past 2 to 5 years – they had no complaints !!!

Though there’s no word on when the update is due just yet, we can assume it’s due sometime in 2016 – 2017, as the current generation model has been in production since 2006.

If you’re buying the Pajero solely for resale purposes in a few years time, then now probably isn’t the best time to pick one up. But if you want something that can seat seven, is decently capable off-road, and is virtually bulletproof, then it’s hard to find something that offers as much bang for your buck as the Pajero.

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